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| March 24, 2005 | ||||||||
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Other sites of interest: Student Government Association Center for Student Involvement & Leadership Appalachian & the Community Together Multicultural Student Development |
Watkins, Pereira win SGA election The results are in, and P. Jud Watkins and Christopher R. Pereira will be the 2005-06 Student Government Association (SGA) president and vice president. Approximately 2,788 students voted in this year's election, a lower turnout than the approximately 4,000 students who voted in last year's election, which saw Miriam N. Makhyoun and Nick V. Albu as the winners. The number was still higher than the 2002-03 election, which saw 2,289 students vote. The Watkins-Pereira ticket claimed 1,715 votes (61 percent), John B. Artman and Jason S. Radford took 841 votes (30 percent) and Chelsea M. Hunt and Benjamin "Rico" Diaz received 232 votes (8 percent). Both Watkins and Pereira were elated after the results came in. "I feel great," Pereira said. "It's really vindicating. I came out here, both Jud and I were involved in the elections' process last year. We saw what could go wrong in an election. This year, the first thing we decided when we even decided to run, is that we're running a clean campaign, straightforward talking to students about what we want to get accomplished. And one thing that's been an issue is, doing the right thing really pays off." Students also voted on a referendum to keep or replace the textbook rental system. Of the total votes, 3,105 students (96 percent) voted to keep the rental system while 99 students (3 percent) supported replacing it. Approximately 10.2 percent of voters supported the referendum but did not vote for a student ticket. "Ten percent of the voters didn't support a candidate at all and that speaks about campaigning," current SGA President Miriam N. Makhyoun said. "This [election] was about name recognition, not ideal recognition." Campus demographics show more females participated in this year's election than males, and more on-campus students voted than those who live off-campus. East Residence Hall saw the highest number of student votes with 163. Of classes, approximately 913 freshmen voted, compared to 874 sophomores, 771 juniors and 563 seniors. SGA Director of State and National Affairs Corwyn D. Sergent said he was happy with the election, but thought the campaign efforts were terrible. "I think our candidates did a piss-poor job of campaigning," he said. "I don't think any of them really did what they could, just simply because of voter turnout." "It was a very poor election for all the candidates, all three tickets," campaign volunteer for the Artman-Radford ticket Evan N. Moody said. Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock and Chancellor-for-a-Day winner Helen E. Archer were present at the announcement. "I thought the campaigns were run very well, the students focused on the issues and, from my perspective, I'm extremely pleased when you find students willing to step up and volunteer to accept leadership roles demanding as demanding as these are," Peacock said. When asked what advice she would give Watkins and Pereira, Makhyoun said, "Remember that you made a pledge to 14,000 students." Grad, out-of-state students to feel 2005 tuition increase The Board of Governors approved tuition increases for out-of-state and graduate students for many of the 16 University of North Carolina system schools Friday. Both resident and non-resident graduate students at Appalachian State University will receive a $300 increase in their tuition. Out-of-state undergraduates will pay the same increase as well. All universities, with the exception of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, had their fee recommendations approved. The Appalachian State Board of Trustees (BOT) had recommended a $123 increase in student fees. BOG Chair J. Bradley Wilson said he was pleased with the vote. “It was unanimous and without controversy, so that certainly should indicate that the various chancellors had made their case well and the board felt the rest of these increases were meritorious,” he said. However, the past few months have seen BOG members, such as chair J. Bradley Wilson, urge the rest of the board to freeze tuition. The BOG acted accordingly in February. The bill for tuition varies for students depending on the number of semester hours they have. For example, a graduate student with two semester hours pays $1,636.65, while a student taking six to eight hours pays $4,707.80, according to the Appalachian Student Accounts Web site. Director of Financial Aid Esther Manogin said the pool of applicants will increase for aid, but the university’s resources to provide it will stay the same. “The only impact as far as awarded financial aid is an adjustment to be made to the cost of attendance because tuition and fees, we actually count that in the cost of attendance,” Manogin said. “So naturally if the cost of attendance is higher because of tuition and fees, students will have a greater need of financial aid, and unfortunately we don’t have any additional funding that’s going to go to meet that increase now.” The North Carolina General Assembly can still initiate its own in-state tuition increases. To encourage legislators to accept the BOG freeze on tuition, students from across the UNC system will go to Raleigh April 6 to discuss the issue with their elected representatives. The event, titled “Save Our System,” will be led by the Association of Student Governments. Transportation to Raleigh will be available for Appalachian students early that morning. ASG Director of State and National Affairs Gary J. McCoy said Appalachian hapledged to send 100 delegates to the event. “This is the most important opportunity for students to voice concerns to legislators that make direct impacts on their everyday lives,” McCoy said. “It’s simple logic,” McCoy said. “The more people we have there to show the legislator that we care, the more they as a body will have to care about our needs as students.” ASU students rescue stranded hikers Four students from the Living-Learning Center decided they would take a 40-mile hike into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over Spring Break. Although the trip started out innocently, these four students became heroes by the end of the week. The four Appalachian State University students: sophomore interdisciplinary studies major Josh R. Hollinger, sophomore Kerry C. Puckett, sophomore music industries studies major Doug I. Stoll and freshman management major Maksym A. Yusko headed out for their hike March 5. The first night, the hikers ended up in a spot called Gregory Bald and hiked the Appalachian Trail over the weekend. The weather got much colder March 7 (Monday) and a cold rainfall stopped the hike at a spot called Russell Field. Over the night, temperatures dipped below 20 degrees. The hikers woke up the next morning to six inches of snow on the ground. Approximately 200 feet before reaching their shelter for the night, the group heard a whistle blowing and cries for help. Roughly 100 feet below the shelter were four other hikers, including a couple that attempted to cross a fast-moving, waist-deep stream. The woman, Kimberley, slipped, fell in and was soaked from head to toe. Because the temperatures were in the low 20s and the couple was drenched, Chris had gone into shock and Kimberley was blacking out. Two of the hikers began carrying Kimberly up to the shelter where they could find her warmth and the hikers who stayed at the shelter began to collect firewood to warm up the shelter for their arrival. “The group impressed me with their ability to work well together and do so quickly,” Puckett said. “Nobody was giving orders during this whole time.” Once they arrived in the shelter, both Chris and Kimberley’s clothes were stripped and they were put into sleeping bags. Their bodies were rubbed for heat and warm drinks were provided by the hikers in order to raise their metabolisms. Once Chris and Kimberly were warmed up and returned to their normal state, the hikers escorted them out of the park and back to safety. “Aside from the great feeling we all experienced after saving the lives of two people, this experience taught me that preparation and proper gear are integral to planning a safe, enjoyable trip,” Puckett said. “Too many people out for Spring Break did not realize that planning a backpacking trip in the mountains at high elevations during March takes serious planning and preparation.” Michael Andrew Lane, a junior political science major from Winston-Salem, was killed in a late night car accident March 16. Lane and his friend, junior business education major Benjamin D. Culp, were driving home when Lane lost control of a 1996 Toyota sport utility vehicle on Poplar Road. The SUV went down a steep bank, overturned and hit a tree, crushing its roof. Lane was pronounced dead at the scene and Culp was taken to Watauga Medical Center without any serious injuries, North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy B. Hendrix said. Hendrix said the roads were wet, but conditions did not appear to contribute to the accident as Lane was driving significantly slower than the posted speed limit of 55 mph. Lane graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School in 2002. He was active member of his high school soccer team as well as Knollwood Baptist Church, where he played basketball and participated in a variety of mission activities. “He was just an incredible kid,” sophomore economics major Justin C. Cavenaugh said His friends are establishing a special scholarship fund in his name. “We just want to have something where kids can come up here and keep his memory as long as possible,” Cavenaugh said. Students and faculty can pay their respects by signing a memorial book in Plemmons Student Union. The book will be given to Lane’s family. Textbook committee receives charge In the first meeting since its creation, the new University Bookstore Committee received an official charge from Appalachian State University Provost Stanley R. Aeschleman Friday. During the meeting, librarian Glenn Ellen Starr Stilling was elected to chair the committee, which will recommend policies regarding textbooks and other educational materials after researching textbook policies. “I was very impressed with the serious attention all committee members gave to [Aeschleman’s] charge,” she said. The University Bookstore Committee, which replaced the former Bookstore Council, was recommended in a motion by Faculty Senate in December. At the same meeting, Faculty Senate passed a motion to discontinue the current textbook rental system at Appalachian. Aeschleman said he and Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock want a recommendation from the committee that maximizes flexibility to faculty while considering the financial needs of students, Stilling said. Stilling said she was “very delighted” the provost wanted a balance between these two aims. The next meeting of the University Bookstore Committee will occur after Easter Break, Stilling said. It is highly unlikely the committee will finish its work this semester, she said. “It’s just not enough time,” she said. Stilling added she was uncertain about possible meetings during the summer. The chancellor and provost have stated a decision about Appalachian’s textbook system will be one of the most important decisions they make, the committee chair said. “I think we will work very hard, and our discussions will be very thoughtful,” Stilling said. SGA campaigns for rental referendum A two-week campaign by the Appalachian State University Student Government Association to launch the textbook rental system debate into campus radar will come to a close this week. The campaign’s primary focus was to encourage students to vote in an online student referendum during SGA presidential elections this week asking students if they want to continue or discontinue the textbook rental system. “A big part of the campaign is to allow students to voice their opinion through the student referendum,” SGA Vice President Nick V. Albu said. Over the past two weeks, SGA has publicized the textbook rental issue through signs, pamphlets, free T-shirts, a Web site (www.textbooks.appstate.edu) and a commercial, which aired this week during Comedy Central’s "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," "Chappelle Show," "South Park" and the “Adult Swim” block on Cartoon Network. In addition to students, SGA has worked to educate all stakeholders in the textbook issue, including parents, staff, faculty and alumni, Albu said. “The campaign began when Faculty Senate made their motion [to remove the textbook rental system],” he said. Since then, SGA has passed several pieces of legislation in support of the textbook rental system, including the enabling act for this week’s student referendum. SGA also sent a survey about the issue to every faculty member on campus, Albu said. Results of the survey should be compiled within the next week. “I really want to stress that this is not over,” Albu said. “SGA will continue to lobby and engage in rigorous debate on this issue; our opinions will be heard.” SGA Director of Student Affairs David C. Humphrey has been involved with he SGA textbook rental system campaign. Humphrey hosted a forum in the “Breakfast of Champions” series, which focused on the textbook issue.
Crew looks to improve Appalachian Trail The officers of the Appalachian State University Trail Crew have been providing trail maintenance services to the Boone area for years. However, they just recently decided to make their hobby into a club and utilize other students who share their love for the outdoors. “We see a need for it because we’re all hikers,” junior recreation management major Ray “Otto” Douglas said. “This is a way to give back to the hiking community, the love of hiking and the love of the trail.” According to the Trail Crew’s constitution, “the purpose of the ASU Trail Crew is to organize students interested in the outdoors and to provide a labor force that will focus on maintaining and rebuilding regional trails.” The Trail Crew, which received official club status in February, plans maintenance days throughout the semester to focus on whatever areas members feel need work. Junior recreation management major Dan B. Winters said the club does not meet regularly. Instead, they plan a few workdays in advance. “We would rather spend more time doing maintenance than having formal meetings,” Winters said. Club officers stressed the club’s flexibility. Students who have ideas of areas that need work should feel free to mention it to club officers. “We’re real enthusiastic about the Appalachian Trail, but we’re open to new ideas,” senior recreation management major Chris L. Peckham said. “If someone knows of a place that needs to be worked on, sure, we would probably work on it.” The Trail Crew currently works closely with the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club to work on the Appalachian Trail. “The Tennessee Eastman Club is made up of hikers about age 64-94,” Peckham said. “They are a great group, and with our help, they get a lot more done.” The Trail Crew is in the process of getting tools donated from the Forest Service. Winters said the club is interested in beginning a program in which club members would alternate walking trails and checking for damage. “This club is about interaction between members,” Douglas said. “It is a very social club to do a common, necessary job.”
Flipside to offer Chicago deep-dish Boone will soon have another pizza place opening its doors. Flipside, currently under construction next to Klondike Cafe, will be the only restaurant in Boone to primarily offer Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza once it opens. Kevin Troyer, the contractor for the project, said renovations are being made to transform the building from the old restaurant, Spoonerz, and the building should open in about a month. Regarding specific changes, Troyer said the building will become handicap accessible, additions will be made to the kitchen area and restrooms, the bar will also be renovated and a stage area will be added. Dan Moore and Lucas McGill are the owners of Flipside. Moore’s family is also in the restaurant business. His father owns one of the biggest restaurant warehouses in the Midwest. McGill is a former Appalachian State University student and has previously been in the restaurant business, including a catering service in Winston-Salem. Moore said several things will set them apart from other pizza restaurants in town, including the kind of pizza served and having regular live music. Moore also plans to bring nationally known acts once or twice a month. After 10 p.m., patrons must be 21 and over to stay in or enter the restaurant. “We do a total flip,” Moore said. “The bar changes dramatically.” It has not yet been decided if there will be a cover charge. Moore said they plan to eventually host outdoor festivals, contests, giveaways and theme nights. Flipside will also have a Web site, which should be running by the time the doors open. McGill said the site will include a web cam of the restaurant, and possibly streaming audio. McGill said these features will be useful for people deciding where to go. In the future, the restaurant will offer Internet service as a sort of appetizer, in order to make up for the longer cooking time of deep-dish pizza. “I expect them to do very well,” Troyer said. “I can see it being a very active, very hopping place.” |
© 2005 ASU Student Publications
